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underclass

underclass

19 5.5
A group of people at the bottom of society who are poor and have few chances to improve their lives
  • noun
  • /ˈʌndərˌklæs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : clase baja
  • Also, I decided to try to understand the underclass primarily through first-hand research.
  • black underclass
  • urban underclass
  • underclass poverty

And what we do is we just create, you know, we're just perpetuating and increasing the, you know, the criminal underclass as a result.

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Examples

  • Mass immigration and the emergence of a near-permanent welfare underclass have changed so many things.

    Blog text (6)
  • Addressing the needs of the underclass is essential for creating a more equitable community.

  • "The South is known to have an underclass of very poor people.

    Academic text (2011)
  • My experience with John suggests that simply providing opportunities for members of the underclass is not enough.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Women primarily represent the underclass of the health services delivery system.

    Academic text (1994)
  • A key feature of the underclass model is low male labor-force participation.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Chaos thus has many sources: an educated population shut out from prosperity and an underclass on the verge of hunger.

    Academic text (2011)
  • For Lemann, institutional racism figures more as a historical problem for the underclass than as a modern-day cancer.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Many families in our city belong to an underclass that struggles to make ends meet.

  • The government needs to take action to support the underclass living in our society.

Synonyms

poor
vsunderclass
194 1.3

People who have little money or possessions

adds social low status and scarce opportunities beyond a simple lack of money
poor people
vsunderclass
141 1.0

People who have little money and few things

is about belonging to society's bottom with few opportunities beyond money lack
less fortunate
vsunderclass
36 3.3

People who have little money or few chances

names a group defined by deep social marginalization and long term poverty
lower class
vsunderclass
14 2.7

People with little money, education, or power in society

is about the bottom group that also faces chronic poverty and few chances
lower orders
vsunderclass
  • Literature
1 7.0

People who have little money and low social status

is more focused on persistent poverty and lack of opportunity rather than rank
mudsill
vsunderclass
  • Offensive
9.9

A social group seen as the lowest class that provides work to support others

is centered on being socially lowest and facing poverty with limited prospects

Antonyms

15 3.4

A social group with the most money and power

How Poor

destitute
20 6.5
underclass
  • Specialized
19 5.5
lower class
14 2.7
working class
69 2.8
middle class
516 2.0
upper class
15 3.4

Surface Forms

underclass singular
underclasses plural

Morphology

underclass = class (transparent) = under + class

Formed by the productive prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' plus 'class', so the meaning 'a social class below others' is directly derivable.

Etymology

The word underclass comes from the parts under- meaning 'below', the same 'under' you find in underground, and class meaning 'group'. So, it names the people who sit below other groups in society, the lowest level who often face poverty and few chances.